NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA07008 By letter dated March 12, 2008, General Motors Corp. (GM) has notified the Agency that it will conduct a safety recall (identified by NHTSA recall number 08V-118) to address a manufacturing defect in approximately 207,542 model year (MY) 1997-2003 Buick regal gs and Pontiac Grand Prix gtp vehicles equipped with the L67 supercharged version of GM's 3800 series II V6 engine.the recalled regal gs vehicles were built from August 1996 to June 2003 and the Grand Prix gtp from March 1996 through January 2003. According to GM, oil may escape past the valve cover gasket on the front cylinder bank (cylinders 1-3-5) and deposit onto hot exhaust system components.under certain conditions, it is possible for this oil to ignite a small Pilot flame, which may spread to the adjacent plastic spark plug wire channel, the spark plug wires themselves, the plastic engine cover, and other under hood components.reports indicate this most often occurs on higher-mileage vehicles shortly after the vehicle has been driven and then parked.typically, the fire was discovered within 5 to 15 minutes after the vehicle was parked.during this time window, under hood temperatures may become elevated.such elevated temperatures combined with a lack of airflow through the engine compartment may permit a small Pilot flame to propagate and ignite other fuel sources. To correct the safety defect, GM will install an improved design front valve cover gasket and spark plug wire retainer.this remedy will be suppliedfree of charge for all recalled vehicles.until sufficient parts become available to repair all of the affected vehicles, GM strongly recommends that owners observe the following important precautions: (1) they strongly recommend that owners do not park their vehicle in a garage, carport, or other structure; (2) if owners notice a burning odor, they should have their dealer inspect the vehicle - the dealer will inspect the vehicle without charge; and (3) use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) in the vehicle as recommended in the vehicle's owner manual. The action taken by GM is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.the subject fire incident rate on the C-, G-, and H-platform subject vehicles is low.the Agency will continue to monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.accordingly, this investigation is closed. See document file for additional information regarding this resume.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Recall #08V118000
1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE -- On January 29, 2007, the Office Of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate alleged non-crash fire originating in the engine compartment in certain model year (MY) 1999-2002 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp vehicles equipped with the ¿L67¿ supercharged version of the General Motors (GM) 3800 series II V6 engine. ODI sent a letter to the manufacturer on February 8, 2007, requesting information about these and other GM vehicles. Based on the information reviewed in PE07-006, the range of subject vehicles under investigation has been expanded to include all MY 1999-2002 Buick Park Avenue, regal, and riviera, Oldsmobile lss, and Pontiac Bonneville and Grand Prix vehicles that use the same or substantially similar transverse mounted "L67" engine. To date, ODI is aware of 180 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles that allege non-crash related fires originating in the engine compartment while driving or after the vehicle is parked and the ignition switched off. ODI¿S analysis does not include any fire incidents that appear to be related to manifold over-pressurization events, which was the subject of a previous ODI investigation (EA02-030) on the same or related GM vehicles equipped with the "L36" engine. While no subject component has yet been identified, ODI analysis of available information indicates that the alleged fire incident rate among the subject vehicles is significantly higher than GM peer vehicles that use the non-supercharged ¿L36¿ version of the GM 3800 series II V6 engine. In some cases, the fire incident rate is twice as high in the subject vehicles and up to as much as an order of magnitude greater than in non-supercharged peer vehicles. For instance, the subject fire incident rate for the supercharged MY 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp is approximately 236 per 100,000 vehicles produced (58 fires / 24,509 subject vehicles or 0.236%) while the fire incident rate for MY 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles equipped with the naturally aspirated "L36" engine is approximately 18 per 100,000 vehicles produced (17 fires / 90,338 vehicles or 0.018%). The manufacturer¿S investigation into alleged engine compartment fires on the subject vehicles is ongoing. Accordingly, this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis to further study the frequency and scope of the alleged defect. Investigation was initiated on June 12 2007. Closed on May 01 2008. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA07008 »
NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE02050 Alleged engine compartment fire during startup.loud pops or backfires before the fire started
Engine And Engine Cooling
no recall issued
1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE -- Alleged engine compartment fire during startup. Loud pops or backfires before the fire started Investigation was initiated on June 13 2002. Closed on October 22 2002. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE02050 »
NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA02030 EA02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM¿S actions in 03V-473 and 04V-090 recalling approximately 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- and H-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by ODI that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in GM¿S recalls.ODI will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other MY 1995-2002 GM passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
Fuel System, Gasoline**
Recall #03V473000
** This defect investigation is filed under 6 related vehicle components.
1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE -- EA02-030 is closed with GM's actions in 03V-473 and 04V-090 recalling approximately 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- and H-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators. These vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by ODI that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in GM's recalls. ODI will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other MY 1995-2002 GM passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.
For additional information, see the attached closing report.
Investigation was initiated on October 22 2002. Closed on March 09 2004. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA02030 »
NHTSA Defect Investigation #RQ99007 A retaining clip securing the manual valve to the linkage of the transmission detent lever can become lose, allowing the link to disconnect.
Power Train
Recall #99V089000
1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE -- A retaining clip securing the manual valve to the linkage of the transmission detent lever can become lose, allowing the link to disconnect. Investigation was initiated on May 26 1999. Closed on February 08 2002. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ99007 »